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Huskies have hole on D-line

DeKALB – Sometimes life opens up a spot for a reason a player doesn't like or even doesn't fully understand, one that has nothing to do with on-field performance and one he has to move on and accept.

That's what happened at the start of this season for Northern Illinois when nose guard Mike Krause, who started every game in 2008, was ruled out for the year with a heart ailment.

"You feel bad for Mike because he's such a super young man and it's tearing his guts out right now," NIU coach Jerry Kill said.

While Krause sits out this season and will receive a medical redshirt, a spot opened up on the defensive line for the Huskies. And while the reason for the open position isn't great, it's a key spot that NIU has to fill if it hopes to remain one of the top defenses in the Mid-American Conference.

"The first thing I did was I prayed for him and his family," said redshirt freshman defensive lineman Brian Lawson. "That's a big loss for the D-line because he's a very inspirational guy for us. I was already working hard, and that just pushed me to work even harder."

Lawson and sophomore Ron Newcomb have split time as the top nose guard through the first week of camp, trying to make their case to start or at least earn time in a rotation that Kill said could reach as deep as five players.

But it's not just Lawson and Newcomb who are battling for more playing time. Defensive end Kyle Jenkins has been moved to the interior of the defensive line and defensive tackle Adam Coleman can slide over to nose guard.